In the coming week, President Biden gives the State of the Union address.

U.S. Secretary of State Blinken visits Beijing, and the EU's ban on Russian petroleum products

takes effect.

It's February 2nd, 2023 in time for the world next week. I'm Bob McMahon.

And I'm Carla Ann Robbins.

Longtime listeners of this podcast will know Carla has been a regular guest of Jim Lindsay and I,

but this week brings something new.

Carla steps in as our new full-time co-host of the world next week.

A little bit of introduction.

Carla is a senior fellow here at the Council.

She is also faculty director of the Master of International Affairs Program at Baruch College's

Mark's School of Public and International Affairs.

Carla brings with her years of experience as an award-winning journalist at both the New York Times

and Wall Street Journal, and we are really happy to have her join the show. Carla, welcome.

Thanks, Bob. It is great to join you, and I know Jim Lindsay is an incredibly major act to follow,

but I will persist. I should also note that some listeners have already mentioned to me they are

going to miss Jim's pronunciation of Bob and his

Bostonian accent among many other things. I know, but I'm slightly different. I also have hair.

All right, then with that, Carla, let's start in Washington, D.C. Next Tuesday, President Joe Biden

gives his annual State of the Union address. While speaking to both chambers of Congress,

each one, by the way, now under the majority of different parties address. While speaking to both chambers of Congress, each one, by the way,

now under the majority of different parties, Biden is going to be expected to highlight

...